Electric-lighting system for automobiles.



E. W. LANE.

ELECTRIC LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20.1915.

1,276,934. Patented Aug. 27, 191&

Inventor, Ernest Wilsdr: Lane, 5y

Attornzy.

ERNEST WILSON LANE, OF WA'VERLY, IOWA,

ELEGTRIGLIGHTI1\TG SYSTEM FOR.AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented A n; 27 1918 Application filedJuly 26, 1915. I Serial No. 42,093.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, Ems ns'r l/VlLSON LANE, acitizen of the United States of America, and a resident of \Vaverly,Bremer county, Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Electric-Lighting Systoms for Automobiles, of which the follow ing isa specification.

My invention relates to improvements in electric lighting systems forautomobiles, and the object of my improvement is to supply convenientmeans for switching lamps which are in series circuit with a magneto orother source of electric current into a multiple circuit with a sourceof electric current of lower voltage, whereby the bril liancy of thelamps illumination maybe maintained at times when the usual source ofpower is incapacitated for action.

This object I have accomplished by the means which are hereinafterdescribed and claimed, and which are 1llustrated 1n the accompanymgdiagram of my improved switch adapted to alternately place a pluralityof lamps in a series circuit, or in multiple circuits with differentsources of electric current.

It is well known that when lamps are in series circuit with a magneto orother source of electric current, any failure of the magneto or othersource of current will extinguish all the lamps in the series. This ispeculiarly inconvenient where such a system of electric lighting isinstalled in a motor-car, since in case the car is brought to a stop orthe motor thereof is disabled by any cause, the magneto will likewisefail to supply current, thus extinguishing the lamps at times when theirillumination is necessary, to prevent collisions and trafficinterference.

My lighting system is applicable foiany installation. desired, andvarious changes may be made in the parts thereof, without departing fromthe scope of my invention or its principles of operation. Also, therespective values of the voltages of its different sources of electriccurrentmay vary, and are not confined to certain multiples or fixedrelations.

The diagram given is based upon a plurality or pair of six volt lamps 1.and 2 in series circuit with the 12 volt magneto 29. The s *itchcomprises a boxing 3 containing a face plate 10 of insulation secured byscrews 37, A pi'vot-pintle 4- is fixed can trally [in said plate andcarries a rock-body of insulation, the latter having a projecting arm (3with terminal handle 7, both also of insulation. 7 Embedded in therock-body 5 and spaced apart, are a pair of like areshaped bars 8 and 9,of conducting material, with their. convex sides adjacent to each other.

The bar 8 has the conducting terminals 2% and 25 at its oppositeextremities. The bar 9 has the conducting terminals 27 and 26 at or nearits opposite ends. The bar 9' ducting contact with the terminal 17 underneath. v V

The conducting terminals or posts 13, 14, 1.5, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21are seated in the insulation 10, and conductors lead from them ashereinafter described.

The terminals 18 and 21 are in circuit with opposite poles of themagneto29, by means of the conductors 31 and 30, respectively. The terminals 19and 20 are in circuit with opposite poles of the battery 28 by means ofthe conductors 33 and 32 re spectively,

The lamps 1 and 2 are in series circuit with the terminals 13 and 15 bymeans of the conductors 34 and 35, and intermediate conductor 39. Aconductor36 leads from the middle of the conductor 39 to the ter minal14:. A conducting bar 11 embedded in the insulation 10 leads from theterminal 13 to the terminal 17. embedded in said insulation leads fromthe terminal 15 to the terminal. 16.

The 6 volt lamps 1 and 2 are arranged as usual inseries circuit with the12 volt magneto 29. While being put into the series circuit the switchis rocked to the right to have the switch terminals 25 and 26 in contactwith the terminals 21 and 18 respectively, and the switch terminals 2 1and 27 in contact with the terminals 13 and 15 respectively.

A. conducting bar 12 na] 15, conductor 35, lamp 2, conductors 39 and 36,contacts H and 2 st, bar 8, contacts 25 and 20, and the conductor Fromsaid negative pole to its positive pole, by way of the conductor 33,contacts 19 and 26, bar 9, contacts 22 and 17, bar 11, terminal )3,conductor S-l, lamp 1, conductors 39 and 36, contacts 14: and 24, bar 8,contacts 25 and 0, and the conductor 32. In this way, each lamp isprovided with a 6 volt current, providing as effective illumination asby the 12 volt magneto in series circuit with both lamps.

The (3 volt battery is relatively inexpensive and of comparatively smallWeight and dimensions, hence it is usefully employed in such a multiplecircuit, in cases of emergency.

Having described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is:

In combination, translating devices, a source of electric current ofrelatively low voltage, a source of electric current of relatively highvoltage, a conductor connecting said translating devices, conductorsleading from sa 1d devices and each having a pair of terminals, abridging conductor leading from the first-mentioned conductor to aterminal, conductors leading from the source of lovv voltage current toterminals, other conductors leading from the source of high voltagecurrent to terminals, and a multicontact switch having separated sets ofconnccted contacts operable selectively with said translating-devicesterminals and with said bridging conductor terminal to independentlyplace said translating-devices in series circuit with said source ofhigh voltage currcnt or in parallel circuit with said source of lowvoltage current.

Signed at \Vaterloo, Iowa, this 21st day of July, 1915. V

ERNEST WILSON LANE.

l'Vitnesses PEARL MARIE STANTON, GEORGE CoLviN KENNEDY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0.

